Tragic tot's mum given cot death training

Giving evidence to the hearing at Paisley Sheriff Court, Irene Carswell said she had taught 40-year-old drug addict Miss Hainey how to safeguard Declan after they had moved into a flat in the town’s Bruce Road

Paisley mum Kimberley Hainey was given cot death training by a health visitor in a bid to protect her infant son Declan, a Fatal Accident Inquiry heard yesterday.

Giving evidence to the hearing at Paisley Sheriff Court, Irene Carswell said she had taught 40-year-old drug addict Miss Hainey how to safeguard Declan after they had moved into a flat in the town’s Bruce Road.

Declan’s mummified body was discovered in his rubbish-strewn cot at the flat in March 2010 – eight months after he was last seen alive.

The witness replied: “Yes, it was to make sure he wasn’t left lying on his back, to watch for over-heating, that he was sleeping in the cot and not sleeping in the same bed with the parent and to make sure that smokers did not do that in the home.”

During yesterday’s evidence, it was also stated that “no-one was in charge” of the Hainey case – despite a number of agencies being involved in looking after the family.

Ed Targowski QC asked Mrs Carswell: “After the birth, New Expectations was involved, Doctor Patel from the GP surgery was involved and yourself and all had differing functions in relation to Declan?”

The health visitor replied: “Yes.”

Mr Targowski then asked Mrs Carswell: “Who was in charge of making sure everyone was working in the same direction? Anybody in having an overview of all three?”

She replied: “No.”

Mrs Carswell was also quizzed about why she didn’t seek a discharge care plan after Declan and his mum were released from hospital in April 2008.

Mr Targowski asked her: “Would that have been helpful, to have a care plan?”

She replied: “Yes.”

Mr Targowski then asked: “Did you have sight of a care plan, as health visitor?”

Mrs Carswell said: “No.”

Miss Hainey was jailed for life in January 2012 and ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years behind bars after being convicted of murdering Declan and attempting to evade justice.

However, appeal court judges overturned the convictions after finding serious problems with expert evidence led by prosecutors at her trial.

The inquiry, which aims to establish the circumstances surrounding Declan’s death, is due to continues.